Illinois Basketball: 5 takeaways from the Illini loss to Indiana

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 19: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Mark Smith (13) drives the ball to the basket during the college basketball game between the Marshall Thundering Herd and the Illinois Fighting Illini on November 19, 2017, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. I am not giving up on Mark Smith

This season has been a struggle for many Illinois basketball players. It doesn’t matter if you are a veteran or a freshman, you have struggled at some point this year. One of the players who has struggled the most is Mark Smith.

Smith came in as one of the more highly touted recruits in recent memory. Every blue blood program was after him, and he won the Illinois Mr. Basketball award. This was a great get for Brad Underwood at the time.

There is no arguing among Illini fans about how this kid has played, though. Smith has struggled mightily this season and it is confusing. There have been signs of him breaking out. He had 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field in the Missouri upset. He also had 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting against UNLV.

The talent is there – in my opinion – but for some reason, there is zero consistency with Smith, and he has not been good in Big Ten play. In conference play, he is only averaging 2.9 points per game on 28.3-percent shooting from the field. The last time he made more than one shot in a game was against Michigan State back on January 22. There is something off about his game right now.

I am not giving up on Smith, though. I have seen this kid perform well, and I think he can do it on a consistent basis. This season is lost as far as the record is concerned, so what I want to happen is for him to start the rest of the games this year. He needs that confidence and ability to play a full game. Let Smith loose and let’s see what he can do.

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